King Kainz completes Cologne turnaround

Cologne 3-1 Hertha Berlin
Goals: 0-1 Jovetic (6'), 1-1 Modeste (41'), 2-1 Kainz (52'), 3-1 Kainz (55')

It took just six minutes for Jovetic to open his Bundesliga account. Matheus Cunha met a Marvin Plattenhardt free-kick, forcing a save from Timo Horn. Cunha was first to the rebound, touching the ball to his new teammate to side-foot home from close range. Suat Serdar made Horn work with a well-struck effort from 20 yards, before Cologne threatened as an attacking unit for the first time. Niklas Stark conceded possession in his own area to Mark Uth, but his attempted chip was telegraphed by Alexander Schwolow in the Hertha goal. Anthony Modeste went one better to bring Cologne level late in the half, the Frenchman converting after smart play between Kainz and Jan Thielmann - the goal standing following a VAR review.

The Billy Goats had their tails up as Kainz and Ellyes Skhiri made Schwolow work either side of the half-time whistle. The Hertha goalkeeper undid all his hard work when he fluffed his clearance from a Modeste cross, though, allowing Kainz to head into the empty net. Kainz doubled up soon after, stretching to convert Benno Schmitz's cut-back for 3-1. Hertha found a second wind as Marco Richter forced a goal-saving challenge from Cologne defender Timo Hübers at the feet of fellow substitute Dodi Lukebakio. Santiago Ascacibar thought he'd reduced the arrears with nine minutes of normal time remaining, but the Argentine was offside when he headed Horn's parried save from a Marton Dardai header goalwards. Cologne heeded the warning, and duly saw out Steffen Baumgart's first Bundesliga game as head coach with minimum fuss.

• Cologne had lost their previous three Bundesliga Matchday 1 fixtures.
• Modeste has scored six goals in nine career appearances against Hertha.
• Kainz scored his 12th and 13th career goals - five have come against Hertha, among them a pair of braces.
• Jovetic has now scored in Europe's top five leagues, his debut Bundesliga goal adding to efforts in Italy (Fiorentina and Inter Milan), England (Manchester City), Spain (Sevilla) and France (Monaco).
• Kevin-Prince Boateng made his 130th Bundesliga appearance, exactly 16 years after making his top-flight debut for Hertha.
• As well as Jovetic, Richter and Cologne's Dejan Ljubicic made their Bundesliga debuts.

Watch: Jovetic: "I'm really proud of my achievement"

Cologne: T. Horn - Schmitz (Ehizibue 84'), Hübers, Czichos, Hector (c) – Skhiri, Ljubicic (Özcan 76') - Thielmann, Uth (Duda 68'), Kainz (Schaub 76') - Modeste (Andersson 76')
Unused subs: Schwäbe, Mere, Lemperle, Ostrak
Out: J. Horn (hip)
Coach: Steffen Baumgart

Hertha: Schwolow - Pekarik (Klünter 59'), Stark (c), M. Dardai, Plattenhardt - Tousart, Ascacibar, Serdar – Cunha (Lukebakio 65'), Boateng (Zeefuik 59') - Jovetic (Richter 65')
Unused subs: Körber, Darida, Dilrosun, Mittelstädt, Torunarigha
Out: Jarstein (match fitness), Piatek (ankle)
Coach: Pal Dardai